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JimGant
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14 hours ago, BenCrew said:The 800,000 Baht should havew been kept in a seperate bank account, and well out of her reach.
The prevailing gist of this thread -- never trust a Thai "lady," especially if she's your wife. Fortunately, I did marry a lady, and she's co-signer to my bank accounts, with her own ATM cards; can waltz into the bank with our co-signatory bank books and withdraw what she wants; and can go online, with my password, and transfer what she wants from my accounts to hers. This latter situation is what she's briefed to do when I croak, in order to avoid possible probate.
Can't imagine not trusting her, as she's never given me cause to in our 44 years of marriage. This thread just reinforces my belief that so many marriages between farangs and Thais are mismatches, which is what it is if you can't trust your spouse. Sad.
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1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:Op was looking for how to get the extension, not agony aunt advice
Geez, nice for someone to give some aid and comfort to someone whose long, apparently happy, marriage had hit a speed bump due to the wife's business desperately running out of options. Hopefully, both extension and marriage preservation will be successful.
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1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:
And they [AirAsia] over charge for baggage too.
No they don't -- in fact, they don't charge for checked baggage, unless you actually have checked baggage. Unlike Nok, whose charge includes a checked 15 kg bag, whether or not you actually check one. And, this shows up with the difference in fares, with Nok charging about 400 bt more, on average, for flts between CNX and DMG.
But, why argue nitnoy fares akin to bus fares -- flying domestic in Thailand, whatever airline's fare, is a waste of time, when you compare these fares to flying back to the West, especially in Business Class (mandatory for arthritic geezers). Airline competition keeps a friendly availability schedule, particularly between DMG and CNX. And competition keeps prices, well, competitive. So, seems meaningless to cry over Thai domestic airline fares.....
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7 hours ago, nglodnig said:if somebody had that much money for a pension why would they choose Thailand over another country?
Why would someone who dislikes Thailand make 592 posts in a Thailand related forum.......? Sounds like your poverty has created a case of sour grapes.
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On 7/8/2023 at 10:57 AM, jonwilly said:
Thanks for the advice on the Immigration matter.
Only I will have my name on that individual account.
Then that account will have to go through probate. Naming a co-signer has no drawbacks -- the bank isn't going to pull a fast one, for whatever reason, and make that account a joint account rather than a co-signatory account. That would be obvious, as the joint account passbook would have two names on it, prominently displayed. So, advise you make your Imm account also a co-signatory account....
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On 7/6/2023 at 10:11 AM, jonwilly said:
After a discussion the lady’s told me to bring my Administrator to the bank and they would do the paperwork for him to be allowed to withdraw money from my accounts on my passing on.
....meaning, they would make your administrator a co-signer on those accounts you so designate --'cause there's no avenue in Thailand to make him or anyone a designated beneficiary.
But granting co-signatory rights is akin to granting a limited Power of Attorney (POA). And the POA dies with the grantor's death. Now, there's nothing specific in the Civil Code, at least that I can find, about co-signatory legal aspects. So, there's a good chance your bank manager might be confused about the rights of a co-signer after the death of the account owner. But why chance it that the bank manager freezes the account when your administrator announces your death? Instead, have him show up with your passbook, bypass the manager, and have a clerk deal with the withdrawal. As long as the bank doesn't know of your death, they have no legal obligation to take any action, which would probably be to freeze your account.
The co-signer option will become even more popular as facial recognition kicks in. Currently, my instructions to my wife are, upon my death, to go online, log into my account, and transfer all but a few baht to her account. But if Bangkok Bank goes to facial recognition for both mobile and online transfers -- well, my wife as co-signer will have to physically go to the bank with my passbook.
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18 hours ago, connda said:....they say it is based on Buddhism, that the dying deserve to die in pain and suffering due to their 'bad karma."
Sounds like Christianity, where, "Jesus suffered for your sins, now it's payback time, sucker." And now in the States, Christianity is indirectly forcing women to have babies they don't want. God Da...., is there any religion that has done any good for living -- or ending -- our lives? Fortunately, there are some countries in the world -- and even a few States in the US -- that have gotten around the religious bugaboo about aiding death in terminal situations. Amen.
Yeah, ain't religion great. So much better knowing death is just going to sleep (with, hopefully, pain reliever, if needed and available, and never knowing you didn't wake up). Why concern yourself with heaven or hell. But, hey, what if there really is reincarnation....? What might be worse -- coming back as a Muslim, or as a Trump supporter? But, don't think I'll worry too much about reincarnation -- just another religious fable for those who can't accept the reality of dying.
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2 hours ago, ChrisKC said:
I think he means, two lines of entry: two descriptions and two correlating amounts of money
Yes
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On 7/8/2023 at 6:21 AM, Pumpuynarak said:
Thanks for your post but i for one don't believe that, more like saving on costs etc
Well, if excessive fraud is making the cost of online banking prohibitive, maybe that's the reason. But there are safeguards with facial recognition that can be used with online banking. Recently, with a Wise transfer, I had to take a picture of my passport (as a baseline), then a selfie for comparison. When these matched, I was told to continue with my online banking transfer, which I happily did from my desktop computer.
There'll be enough IT illiterates out there to cause at least one bank's business plan to retain online banking. Yes, there now may be facial recognition thrown in, forcing one to buy a mobile phone, or maybe just a Webcam. This could be problematic for geezers, who believe a "selfie" refers to masturbation.
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21 hours ago, Lorry said:
How to get an English document showing that I paid withholding tax on the interest of my Thai bank account?
If you have online banking, at least with Bangkok Bank, you can opt for everything in English. For my savings account, I have two line items, spelling out: "Interest Credit" and "Withholding Tax."
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21 minutes ago, OneZero said:
Perhaps he used a visa agency.
That would be a new wrinkle, because several of us explored the use of agents to make the insurance requirement disappear -- and came up empty.
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12 hours ago, OneZero said:In order to rid yourself of that "insurance mafia" why did you not just discuss with Immigration converting from that Non Imm "O-A" Visa to a Non Imm "O" visa" a long time ago?
The only way to kill the O-A is to border hop, without a re-entry permit, and re-enter visa exempt, then apply for a Non Imm O. Or, alternatively, go to a Thai consulate abroad and get a Non Imm O "retirement" visa. I had planned to do this with Saigon, then Covid hit. When this option allowed itself again, the LTR option showed up.
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1 hour ago, HerewardtheWake said:Jim, does this sentence mean that no health insurance policy is needed once you get the LTR visa? Thanks.
Well, at least with the LTR visa you can medically self-insure, with $100k in a liquid, non investment, account. In my situation, I have Tricare (based on my US military service), which BoI has realized has a very substantial coverage, that meets all their requirements. Either way, LTR wants you to be insured -- but is flexible, and realistic.
Now, on my now-elapsed retirement extension off of a Non Imm O-A visa .. I was required to have one of 12 (maybe it's 14) Thai medical insurance policies. This is a complete scam, hosted by these Thai insurance companies. My LMG policy has a 1 million baht deductible, per procedure! Is anybody realistically covered under this scheme? And the annual premium is 69,000 baht (and this is the cheapest of the 12 (14) Thai insurance companies).
So, the LTR visa allows me to cut loose from the Thai insurance mafia. This would never happen while I was on a Non Imm O-A retirement extension -- just too much gravy for the insurance mafia -- and their government co-conspirators.
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19 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:
A bit strange how SCB seems be saying they CAN'T do the facial recognition registration for foreigners
Maybe that's only for foreigners with round eyes.....
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Report on getting a Wealthy Pensioner LTR visa at OSS Bangkok:
Applied 30 May, providing all requested documents.
All accepted, except my Tricare medical insurance:
Sent an email pointing out that the Tricare document I submitted was the same as that accepted from previous applicants. I even provided some quotes from this forum to that effect. Was told to resubmit, which I did – this time with a cover letter pointing out BoI’s previous acceptance of the DoD letter from other applicants, plus highlighting the operative sentence on that letter:
“This letter may be used as proof of current coverage under a Tricare administered program.”
[How to get this DoD letter is discussed earlier in this thread.]
Didn’t hear anything for several days, so pinged them again as to status, and advised that I could self insure, if that’s what it came to (probably bad move, as this could give them an out to deny Tricare).
Finally, on 14 June, received a “Qualification Approved (endorsed).” Obviously, then, my Tricare had been accepted – but I heard nothing more about that decision.
Told to submit passport data again; plus latest travel info (stamps); where you want to get the Visa (OSS or embassy); and various requests for other submissions (actually, resubmissions, like a TM47). Also, fill out an online form, with info such as your address, phone, blah blah. When I hit “submit,” nothing happened, except a return to top of page. Realized this probably meant the submission failed – so I queried LTR via email about, did they receive it, or what might I be doing wrong. They immediately replied that, don’t leave any of the blocks on the online form blank. If not applicable, at least fill in with a dash. So, I went back and put a dash in my “street name” block (my gravel street has no name), and presto – I got the “success” when I submitted.
On 15 June, all the submissions in the “Document Review for Visa” step, above, must have passed muster, as I went to the next step: “Visa Issuance Pre-approved.” Here’s where you make your appointment to come into OSS. This appointment date will be inserted at applicable locations in the four documents you’ll later download.
The appointment calendar has hourly selections. It was almost empty, so I could have gone the next day, had I been in Bangkok. But I wasn’t – so I opted for three weeks later, on 5 July, at 11:00 AM. Bad choice of time (I’ll elaborate later).
The four documents to download are: TM94; STM8;Confirmation of Appointment; and Notification of Qualification Endorsement. The buttons to click on for the first three are apparent; however, for the fourth one, you’ll need to go to the “check status” category, click on “print,” and then you’ll be taken to the downloads (one English, one Thai). Check carefully the filled-in fields on your TM94 and STM8; they really screwed up my address, but easily correctable with Adobe.
Other application facts:
For income, I submitted last year’s tax return, with 1099’s; and this year’s projected income, using pay statements. Both submissions had cover letters explaining what all the numbers meant, translating the monthly figures into a yearly projection.
When I queried them as to what exactly they wanted, I got: "You will only have to submit the income of previous year or the last 12 months." Hmmm. Sounds like last year's tax return could stand by itself..... Or you could submit pay stubs for the first 6 months of this year, plus pay stubs from last 6 months of last year. Anyway, what I submitted sufficed.
They don’t specifically ask for an upload of that six page “Application for Qualification Endorsement,” but I uploaded it in the “Other Documents” section. Don’t know if it was needed, but it seemed like an important enough document…..maybe not.
All communications were via email ([email protected]). Didn't use the contact button, as reports have that as buggy. Never had a phone conversation, as the email correspondence answered all my questions and was very responsive.
Appointment Day, 5 July:
Not knowing traffic situation, showed up at OSS early, like, 9:30 for my 11:00 appointment. A few customers there, but apparently none for LTR visas. So, they immediately took my paperwork, assigned a minder, and had me sit down. Minder came back from Immigration, requesting the original TM6 (which I had, as it had been recently attached to my passport). And also requesting my original TM47. After explaining I do it online, thus an original is impossible, she went back to Immigration with this explanation. Apparently accepted, as she came back to lead me to Immigration to have my photo taken (polo shirt acceptable).
Still in Immigration, she had me sit while she dealt with the next step. She came back, saying it will be about an hour’s wait (the place was really packed) – thus we went back to the comfortable chairs in the LTR office.
So after about an hour, we went back to Immigration, where I paid my 50000 baht. Then, to another part of Immigration, where I sat among the masses, inwardly smiling, knowing I’d never have to do this again at CM Immigration. Fifteen minutes later, got my passport, with its new stamps, and returned to the LTR office, where they went over the stamps with me, then said goodbye.
All in all, it took about one and a half hours. Thus, if I’d showed up at my appointed time of 11:00, I would have bumped into Immigration’s lunchtime, and thus would have to wait for them to open up again. So, I suggest you don’t use 11:00 as an appointment time.
Now, to call LMG insurance and cancel that worthless requirement for OA extensions. The renewal premium I’ll save more than covers the cost of the LTR visa. And the cost of the five star hotel, air fare, gourmet dinners, and limos to and from airport.
Good experience. Will probably have to do again in five years, as I doubt the Immigration Bureau will farm this out to provincial offices (except maybe the one year reporting). But, hey, no complaints.
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2 hours ago, Lacessit said:
Le Coq D'Or is the most expensive restaurant in Chiang Mai,
Yeah, great place -- leave there with a smile and a burp -- and an empty wallet. But at my age, the latter is only less inheritance for worthless relatives. Time to splurge.
Last there years ago, and had great lamb chops. Geez, now I have a hunger for lamb.... Must be a reaction from too much Thai food lately -- Western roots taking over.
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2 hours ago, huangnon said:
Maybe "Dukes" in CM
Hmmm. Some good food, and steak. Can't remember a lobster tail on the menu when they were at Promenada...
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24 minutes ago, RayWright said:
What was the gaff called in BKK? Just wondering as like a good Surf'n'Turf for next time I'm up there. Cheers.
Rib Room, at the top of the Landmark. Besides excellent food, excellent ambiance, as the 31st floor, obviously, has a good view.
https://www.landmarkbangkok.com/dining/rrb-rib-room-bar-steak-house/
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On 7/4/2023 at 9:27 PM, Felton Jarvis said:
To be fair, NO BANK wants to deal with the onerous FBAR reporting that the USA forces on foreign banks which open accounts for Americans. Just another example of overreach.
Oh, yawn. FBAR is a reporting system for American citizens with over $10k in foreign banks. You're apparently referring to FATCA, which Thailand has signed up to, and which has turned out to be non onerous -- and effective. But, quit blaming the Yanks -- the Europeans have the son of FATCA, namely, CRS. The whole world now is making it hard for those poor money launderers to thrive. So sad.
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Just got back from Bangkok, where I had a fantastic steak, along with half an American lobster. So, just wondering, is there any restaurant in CM that offers such a combination? I could live with the lobster being a clawless langusta.
Yes, plenty of seafood restaurants with langusta. But are any equipped with decent (and, yes, expensive) steaks?
There must be a niche restaurant out there somewhere......
Thanx
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On 6/21/2023 at 11:04 AM, fceligoj said:
(taking a complete picture of the ID page of the Passport
Yep, I too was hit with this last week, for no apparent reason: Nothing had changed -- same desktop computer, same internet connection, same receiving account. Must be a large scale "random" check, driven by the "KYC" police. Annoying that I had to go find my cell phone. Then my passport. Then scotch tape, so that I could get my passport to lie flat for a picture. Anyway, after several photo failures, it finally took.
Wondering if this was the future, I sent another amount the next day -- and no more asking for security photos. Maybe again in a couple of years..... At least I'm still allowed to use my desktop for transfers, as I like the large screen and keyboard that fits my fingers. But, maybe someday soon, Wise will switch entirely to mobile apps.... Sigh.
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10 hours ago, lordgrinz said:
are they looking for the end date of the Extension of Permission to stay?
Probably, as that would tell them you currently reside in Thailand, which is a requirement for renewing your passport by mail.
The US State Dept has, in recent years, been guilty of using the terms "visa" and "visa extension" interchangeably -- samo samo Thai gov't. Can, and does, cause confusion.
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You now have to use the US Gov't's secure payment site to pay the $130 for the passport. However, a bank draft is still needed for the return postage.
This info came out several months ago, when, apparently, they got tired of revising too often how much baht on the bank draft equated to $130; easier just to require the payment in dollars.
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LTR Visa is Now available for Long Term Residency
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted · Edited by JimGant
Here's an observation that lends itself to getting an LTR eVisa, or an LTR Visa sticker, rather than an LTR stamp at BoI/IMM OSS, Bangkok:
If you've got an LTR Visa sticker, it's good for 10 years, period, independent of the passport's expiration date. So too with an LTR eVisa. But if you've got an LTR stamp from Immigration at OSS, it expires with the passport -- and has to be renewed (transferred) at IMM OSS.
Ugh. Since most of us have passports with a 10 year lifetime , this means that at some point during our visa's 10 year duration, we'll have to make a visit to Bangkok to obtain a transferred LTR stamp to our new passport. [There's a trip report earlier in this thread on this transfer process -- several hours and four pages of blank passport required.] Now, if I had a visa sticker, or an eVisa, this trip wouldn't be necessary.
Here's a good example of the limitations of a stamp. I believe I got this example from this thread (but forgot to note its author):
stamps from a forum member, with only two years allowed.pdf
Note that his passport apparently expires 22 Oct 2024 -- and that the boilerplate language in the stamp says his visa is only good for the duration of the passport (this is further emphasized with the red stamp at the top). Thus, his visa expires on 22 Oct 2024. And since permissions of stay, in the LTR situation, must apparently coincide with active visas (vice active passports), so too expires his permission of stay on 22 Oct 2024.
Wow! We saw with Misty, who has an eVisa, that she was stamped in for 5 years even tho' her passport expired in just a couple of years. Saw something similar with someone entering on an LTR visa sticker. What an advantage of never having to go to Bangkok when your passport expires, as is the case with a visa stamp. Why couldn't they just have left off the boilerplate language on the stamp tying visa validity to passport validity.....? This, at least, would have equated the three methods of obtaining an LTR visa. Oh well.
My passport will expire 3 years into my second 5 year permission of stay. Instead of waiting until then to travel to Bangkok, maybe I'll renew my passport early, coinciding with the second 5 year LTR period renewal. If this second 5 year renewal also requires a trip to Bangkok (OSS/IMM), a single trip might just do the trick. Maybe by then agents can be involved, if IMM has no photo requirement....
Anyway, sticker or eVisa weren't an option for me, living full time in Thailand. However, for those thinking about an LTR visa, and who still have a foot in the home country, consider initiating the LTR process from the Thai Embassy/Consulate.